India: At least six people killed as heavy monsoon rains batter Mumbai
India's financial capital of Mumbai is being battered by heavy monsoon rains that have killed at least six people as buildings collapse under the deluge.
At least six people including five children have been killed when a group of buildings collapsed in the eastern suburbs of India’s Mumbai, the latest casualties of heavy rains that have disrupted travel and shut down schools in the city.
Two-to-three multi-storey houses in a slum collapsed in the Mankhurd area of Mumbai on Sunday, leaving five young children and one woman dead, civic authorities said.
Rains also triggered landslides on the expressway connecting Mumbai with Pune, forcing its closure and disrupting traffic between the two cities.
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Besides road transport, flights were disrupted and long-distance train services, including those running between Mumbai and Pune, were also cancelled.
Local media showed residents trudging through waterlogged lanes, as schools and colleges were shut on Monday.
India’s Meteorological Department issued a red alert on Monday for lightning, thunderstorms and heavy rain in Mumbai, advising people to avoid sheltering under trees or weak structures and avoid unnecessary travel.
Heavy rains have also led trees to collapse on Mumbai roads, killing at least three people since late last month, local media say.
The city, the financial capital of India, received more than 100mm of rainfall, with some regions receiving as much as 161mm of rain.
India’s weather office has predicted “a spell of very light to light” rain for Monday at many places in the national capital region.
